My gripe against no poo

I've tried a couple of times going without shampoo, just using water when showering my face and body. I'm all about natural hygiene, which is why I tried it in the first place. It pains me to say this, but I don't think no poo is for everyone.

Animals in the wild don't exactly smell peachy. They have a musk and greasy hair/fur for several reasons. Those reasons don't apply to the society that first world humans in. A smell of body odor (regardless of diet) will put most potential suitors off, not on like with wild animals. It can be seen (or smelled haha) as offensive to people you're around. It can be deemed inappropriate in a work environment (especially white collar jobs).

We also don't need a grease layer to protect us from the elements, as we live indoors. Even when people go outside for extended periods, they usually protect their heads and bodies from the hot sun or cold rain or snow with clothing and sunscreen...and insect repellant lol.

Finally, we live in an unnatural world of air pollution, especially you city dwellers. In my opinion AND experience, these chemicals need more than a gentle water washing to get out. I also believe our treated water lacks the minerals of natural spring water, while adding in fluoride, chlorine, etc. which can damage and dry out hair and skin.

If you are able to go no poo with a high degree of success, that's awesome! I'm not telling you not to do so, and I welcome any tips you may have to lessen soap use. Currently, I use a vegan bar of soap for my hair, armpits, and nether regions every day or two (or three or four if I can). I don't blame dry skin on the soap. I blame it on the cold, dry climate and hard water.

When at my aunt and uncle's house, I get to shower in their soft water. Even without using soap, I feel like my skin is left soft and nourished after each shower. No dry, flaky skin whatsoever. A few days after being back home in typical, treated city water? My dry skin returns.

All of that said, I don't feel like a failure for choosing not to go no poo, and I don't think you should either. I would recommend a gentle, vegan soap. Dr. Bonner's has a mild burning sensation to it, so I switched to Kirk's Castile soap. The one commenter on that page recommended it for people with sensitive skin. Also, it has no dyes or detergents...and it's cheap :D

Stay fruity and, uh, stay clean :P

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  • Hi guys. You say you use baking soda and water to rinse, I have just put together a mix in a litre glass bottle in the bathroom, will I be ok to leave it like that and use as and when? Or does it have to be mixed and used in one go? 

    Thank you for your post mathyou, but I am still going to give it a go and see... 

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    • Haha I believe it.

      Oh cool I didn't know there was a mild version. Well it seems like you're headed in the right direction, so keep it up!!

  • Not sure, but these are the ingredients I was using earlier this year, so it's a big step up for me at least...

    Water, Ammonium Laureth Sulfate, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Isostearamidopropyl Ethyldimonium Ethosulfate (And) Peg-9, Cocamide Mea, Ammonium Chloride, Peg-7 Glyceryl Cocoate, Fragrance, Peg-6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Disodium Edta, Benzophenone-4, Propylene Glycol, Anthemis Nobilis (Chamomile) Flower Extract, Sodium Chloride (Sea Salts), Sargassum Filipendula (Algae) Extract, Gellidiela Acerosa (Algae) Extract, Hypnea Musciformis (Algae) Extract, Freesia Refracta (Freesia) Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Panthenol (Provitamin B5), Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone, Violet 2, Blue 1.

  • Yeah, I have been using baking soda and water maybe once a week since August and am enjoying my hair. I do think it is funny, though, to be in the shower using soap on the rest of me and being careful not to get any in my hair! Plus, my hair feels all greasy while I'm in the shower but dries normally. I am pretty proud of not shampooing and am learning to like my "new" hair. I am going to look into a soft soap like you mentioned, plus, I want a water filter for my shower as they say that if you have bad water anyway, a warm shower is just you breathing in the steam of all the impurities. I sucked it up for about eight weeks and waited for my hair to stop producing so much oil, I wonder if the body goes through the same thing without soap?

    • yep, you take in much more chlorine through breathing it in from a 15 minute shower than drinking water all day from the tap.  A filter makes a big difference in the shower.

    • Good topics. Never thought of breathing in shower steam/mist. If you can afford it, get a water softener. First time I showered at my aunt's I thought soap lather was still on me when I was done. Nope. Water was just that amazing.

      I think your skin might have to adjust like your hair and scalp did but probably not to such an extent.

  • So true!

    I'm gonna try going no poo for a bit longer, but if it just isn't working for me I'm gonna stop.

    • Good on ya. I read on your thread it took someone 4 months to get past the icky stages. I just can't wait that long working at an office job and now working out every other day.

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